Runners' World: 10 Amazing Races
Whether you still have on a runner’s high from last week’s Standard Chartered Marathon or you’re interested in booking a sporty holiday, here's a list of beautiful marathons worth traveling for. Not a runner? A glimpse at these gorgeous routes might be enough to have you sprinting towards a treadmill.
March 1: Kilimanjaro Premium Lager Marathon
The tallest mountain in Africa at 5,895 meters tall, Kilimanjaro makes quite the backdrop for a marathon. Lucky for you, this race doesn’t trek all the way to the top—it starts in Moshi, Tanzania, and continues along a relatively flat stretch of coffee and banana plantations, villages and farms before turning uphill and peaking at 1,150 meters. All while Kili cheers you on in the distance.
Register at www.kilimanjaromarathon.com.
Photo: Kilimanjaro Marathon
April 26: Virgin Money London
Hit the ground running with the London’s marathon’s popular route, which winds along the Thames, passes the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral and ends next to Buckingham Palace. Talk about a whirlwind tour!
The 2015 ballot is closed. Mark your calendar for 2016 registration, opening May 4, 2015. Register at virginmoneylondonmarathon.com.
Photo: Virgin Money London Marathon
May 12: Great Wall Marathon
For a race to remember, consider the Great Wall Marathon in Tianjin, China. It’s long been hailed as one of the world’s most arduous courses, but you can’t argue with the surrounds: runners make their way through local villages and countryside before finally running along the Great Wall for an epic finish.
Register at great-wall-marathon.com.